At any time, we can face uncertainties and experiences that threaten our emotional and spiritual well-being. Caught off-guard by the numerous crises and transitions that accompany life, we may not know how to cope or where to turn for help.

Some people turn to psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers for help in coping with these crises and transitions. Others look for support and the opportunity to discuss these issues within a spiritual context. But can one find spiritual help and psychotherapy at the same time? Most religious leaders have little time or training to provide in-depth and extensive therapy. And most psychotherapists have little training or desire to discuss in-depth spiritual matters during sessions with patients. The answer may be pastoral counseling.

What Is Pastoral Counseling?

According to the American Association of Pastoral Counselors (AAPC), pastoral counseling is a form of psychotherapy that uses spiritual resources as well as psychological understanding for healing and growth. The central theme in pastoral counseling is an awareness of the spiritual dimension in human wholeness. Crises and transitions are addressed in terms such as faith, meaning, purpose, and direction, as well as in psychotherapeutic terms.

The foundation of pastoral counseling goes back to the 1930s, when minister Norman Vincent Peale and psychiatrist Smiley Blanton integrated religion and psychotherapy for psychotherapeutic purposes. Other influential social scientists, such as Carl Jung, Abraham Maslow, William James, and Karl Menninger, also shared this awareness of spirituality and psychotherapy. Over the years, pastoral counseling evolved from religious or spiritual counseling to pastoral psychotherapy, a practice that integrates theology and the behavioral sciences.

Who Are Pastoral Counselors?

Pastoral counselors are certified mental health professionals who have had extensive religious and/or theological training. An AAPC certified pastoral counselor holds a bachelor's and a master's or doctoral degree in spiritual or biblical studies or a master's or doctoral degree in pastoral counseling.

Pastoral counselors also have a significant amount of clinical training. This includes supervised clinical experience.

Like other mental health professionals, pastoral counselors work with a variety of issues, depending on their training and background. They may specialize in marriage and family therapy, addiction, grief, and other issues, including serious mental illnesses. In addition to short- and long-term counseling, they may provide educational programs on preparing for marriage, adjusting to divorce, and coping with loss and grief.

Pastoral counselors may work as clinicians in:

Health clinics

State hospitals

Private and group practices

Congregation-based centers

Church or synagogue offices

Free-standing pastoral counseling centers

How Do You Find a Pastoral Counselor?

Pastoral counselors represent more than 80 different faith groups, but people of any religious faith—or no religious faith—can see a pastoral counselor.

So how does one go about finding a pastoral counselor? Get a recommendation from someone you trust, such as a friend, religious leader, physician, or other professional. It's also important to interview counselors. Find a counselor with whom you feel compatible and comfortable.

What About Fees and Insurance Coverage?

In many states, pastoral counselors are covered by insurance, according to state licensing. Others may offer sliding scale fees or have a certain number of reduced fee hours per week. In some cases, pastoral counseling can be more affordable than other types of counseling, especially if counselors work out of churches and congregations. Sometimes church members even contribute to costs, or they have an assistance fund.

Should You Take Advantage of Pastoral Counseling?

Despite the added benefits of a spiritually-based mental health approach, many people do not take advantage of pastoral counseling. One reason is that some people fear that they would be pressed in a certain spiritual direction, particularly if the counselor were of a different faith. However, most pastoral counselors don't give advice or force their religious views, but instead help people to explore and make their own decisions. Those few who do operate from a certain viewpoint are usually up front about it. It's best to inquire about the counselor's views during the initial interview, and if there is a poor match, seek a different counsellor.

Lastly, many people don't know about pastoral counseling. Unlike other mental health professions, such as psychology and social work, pastoral counseling doesn't get a lot of press. In addition, there is often misunderstanding about what pastoral counselors do.

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

Brief history on pastoral counseling. American Association of Pastoral Counselors website. Available at: http://www.aapc.org/about-us/brief-history-on-pastoral-counseling/?. Accessed November 14, 2013.